ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Jal Shakti Abhiyan -II
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan -I, in 1592 blocks out of 2836 blocks in 256 water stressed districts of the country in two phases last year  as a time bound campaign intended to improve water availability in these blocks. Under Jal Shakti Abhiyan-I, officers, groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India have worked with State and District officials in these water-stressed districts of the country to promote water conservation and water resource management by focusing on accelerated implementation of five target interventions, viz, water conservation & rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells, water shed development and intensive afforestation. With this campaign, huge awareness has been generated and various stakeholders, viz. government department, agencies, NGOs, officials, Panchayats, individuals, etc. have started taking steps for water conservation.
Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. Central Government augments the efforts of the State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programs. Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing various schemes and programs like Atal Bhujal Yojana , National Aquifer Mapping and Management  Program, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana - Accredited Irrigation Benefit Program , Command Area Development & Water Management  Program, Surface Minor Irrigation and Repair Renovation & Restoration of water bodies  etc and campaigns like “Catch the Rain” and “Sahi Fasal” with people’s/farmers’ active participation for water conservation and asset creation.
The "Catch The Rain" campaign launched by National Water Mission is an awareness generation program nudging the state governments and stakeholders to take up rain water harvesting structures appropriate to the soil-substrata and climatic conditions, with active participation of people. In collaboration with the "Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan" a massive awareness drive has been launched on 21 December 2020 involving Youth Clubs in 623 districts. Apart from this National Water Mission has been holding seminars, workshops, monthly "Water Talks" and "Water Tech talks" and weekly webinars "Catch the Rain: Dialogues with DMs" with selected District Magistrates/District Collectors/Deputy Commissioners to spread awareness. Department of Rural Development is also taking up water conservation works in drought prone areas of the country in all States/UTs under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme  as per demand and following due process under the scheme.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti & Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Rattan Lal Kataria in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Steel
Recycled steel used in different sectors
The total quantity of recycled steel used in various sectors including construction, automobile and infrastructure sectors etc., in the country is approximately 30 Milion Tonnes .
The overall utilization of the steel scrap in the steel sector in India is around 25% of the input material used.
Material Recycling Association of India has organized conferences with recyclers all around the world to provide them to come together on a common platform. It helps in bringing business to India and generates awareness regarding recycling and its positive impact on environment.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
PIB Headquarters
Goods and Service Tax evasion found in Surat
It came to the notice of the officers of the DGGI, Zonal Unit, Surat that the Firms M/s Tanishk Fashion, 3086-87-88, Radha Raman Textile Market, Saroli and M/s Riddhi Siddhi Fashion, 736, New Textile Market, Nawabwadi, Surat, engaged in the activity of sale of finished fabric dress material are selling some of the goods without payment of proper GST. Acting upon the above said intelligence, the officers of the DGGI, Zonal Unit, Surat searched the premises on 25.09.2019 at three places related to these firms located in the City of Surat. During the course of search, it was found that the above said firms are engaged in clandestine clearance of the taxable goods by raising parallel invoices to the actual supply and thus evading the payment of GST in the process. The value of the offending goods so cleared without payment of GST and without proper GST invoices has been ascertained to the tune of more than Rupees five Crore, as per the preliminary estimates. The taxpayer voluntary accepted the GST liability and made part payment on the spot with promise to pay the remaining amount shortly. Further investigation going on in this case.
Ministry of Heavy Industries
Land Handed over to CPSES by Various State Governments
Department of Public Enterprises  is a general policy making Department for CPSEs and does not centrally maintain data of movable/ immovable assets of CPSEs.The details of the land acquired and handed over to Central Public Sector Enterprises by various State Governments for use of such CPSEsare available with the CPSEs and their concerned administrative Ministries/ Departments.
Department of Investment and Public Asset Management  is the nodal Department for disinvestment of CPSEs. DIPAM has intimated that the procedure and mechanism of asset monetization of Central Public Sector Enterprises / Public Sector Undertakings / other Government Organizations and immovable Enemy Properties has been approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 28.02.2019.
As per the procedure & mechanism of asset monetization, Technical/ Advisors/Consultants/ Experts/international bodies will carry out due diligence of the assets in consultations with various stakeholders including the State Government. Based on the feedback received, the Technical/ Advisors/ Consultants will suggest to Inter-Ministerial Group  the models for monetization of asset under consideration. IMG will further recommend to the Alternative Mechanism  the appropriate model for monetization of asset under consideration, threshold value, revenue sharing with the State Governments. AM will decide the appropriate model, threshold value, sharing the proceeds of revenue with the State Governments.
This information was given by the Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Prakash Javadekar, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar PVSM, AVSM, VSM takes over as Flag Officer Commanding-In-Chief Western Naval Command
Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief  of the Western Naval Command on 28 Feb 2021 at Mumbai. He succeeds Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, who retires upon superannuation, after an illustrious career, spanning forty years, in the Indian Navy.
At a ceremony held at the Command Post of Headquarters, Western Naval Command, the outgoing and incoming Commanders-in-Chief were accorded a Guard of Honour after which the formal handing-taking over took place with the handing over of the baton to the new Commander-in-Chief. On assuming command Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh monument.
Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jan 1983. He specialised in Gunnery and has commanded five ships including a Destroyer and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat. He has held important staff appointments both ashore and afloat and has also been Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles. On promotion to flag rank he has held the appointments of Commandant of Naval War College at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Chief of Staff at Western Naval Command, Controller Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel at NHQ. Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar was CISC/ VCDS  at HQIDS prior to taking over as FOC-in-C Western Naval Command. The Flag Officer is a recipient of the Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service.
The outgoing FOC-in-C, Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC superannuated from service on 28 Feb 21. The Admiral served at the helm of this premier naval Command since 31 Jan 19. During his tenure, the WNC saw extensive operational deployments in response to developing security situation post the Pulwama attack and the Galwan crisis across the Indian Ocean Region. During this period WNC was also at the forefront of anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden as also Op Samudra Setu for evacuation of Indian nationals from various countries during COVID-19 and Missions Sagar I & II to reach out to countries in the IOR littoral with assistance in the fight against COVID.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Government notified scheme to provide financial assistance to project proponents forenhancing ethanol distillation
Government has notified scheme for extending financial assistance to project proponents for enhancement of ethanol distillation capacity or to set up distilleries for producing 1st Generation  ethanol from feed stocks such as cereals , sugarcane, sugar beet etc. vide notification dated 14.01.2021. Under the scheme, Government would bear interest subvention for five years, including one year moratorium, against the loan availed by project proponents from banks @ 6% per annum or 50% of the rate of interest charged by banks, whichever is lower, for setting up of new distilleries; expansion of existing distilleries; converting existing distilleries to dual feedstock; setting up of new dual feed distilleries; expansion of existing dual feed distilleries; and installation of Molecular Sieve Dehydration  column etc.
During previous Ethanol Supply Year  2019-20 , about 173 crore litre of ethanol was supplied by sugar mills and distilleries to Oil Marketing Companies . In the current ESY 2020-21, against Letter of Intent  quantity of 324.69 crore litre and contracted quantity of 269.88 crore litre, about 48.73 crore litre of ethanol has been supplied to OMCs, as on 01.02.2021.
State Governments/ UTs have been advised to promote the scheme to the entrepreneurs and encourage them to participate in the scheme so that the target set by the Government could be achieved well within the timeline. State Governments have also been requested to facilitate entrepreneurs in arranging land for the project, getting early environment clearance etc. in setting up of distilleries. In this regard, webinars/meetings have been organised with State Governments/ UTs, industry, concerned departments of Central Government and other stakeholders.
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Danve Raosaheb Dadarao in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Hariyali Mahotsav
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had organized “Hariyali Mahotsav”, the Tree Festival, at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi, on 8th July,2022 forcelebrating tree plantation and commemorating 75 years of Independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The event was organised in collaboration with the State Governments, Police Institutions of NCT Government of Delhi and Schools of Delhi for undertaking plantation drives and awareness generation to protect environment.
More than 2500 people participated in person including School Students from Delhi, Members of Eco-Task Force, and Members of Non-Government Organisation along with officials from various Ministries participated in the programme.
On the occasion of ‘Hariyali Mahotsav’ ceremonial plantations like 75 Nagar Vans, 75 degraded forest sites, along 75 km of road, around 75 Police establishments in Delhi and in 75 schools of Delhi were undertaken across the country through people’s participation involving School Children, NGOs, Civil Societies, officials of Police and other Govt. departments.
The Ministry has issued several advisories for involvement of people encouraging their participation in various tree plantation programmes on occasions like Van/ Haryali Mahotsav, World Environment Day, and World Forestry Day etc. States and UT Governments carry out various afforestation drives to achieve their afforestation targets including mass plantation drive involving public participation.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
MoHUA constitutes committee to identify and designate institutions as Centres of Excellence
The Union Minister of Finance, in the budget 2022-23 speech, has announced that “for developing India specific knowledge in urban planning and design, and to deliver certified training in these areas, up to five existing academic institutions in different regions will be designated as centres of excellence. These centres will be provided endowment funds of Rs. 250 crores each.”
In order to steer the process of identifying and designating institutions as Centres of Excellence , Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs  has constituted a committee comprising of officials from MoHUA, Department of Higher Education , All India Council for Technical Education, NITI Aayog and leading domain experts. Terms of Reference of the aforementioned Committee are as under:
- To identify the parameters for evaluating the institution’s capacity to undertake training and capacity building programmes.
- To lay down the process for selection of institutions to be designated as CoEs.
- To recommend five CoEs, one from each region, based on the challenge competition.
- To suggest list of subjects on which India specific knowledge may be created and training and capacity building may be provided by the CoEs. An indicative list of subjects is given below:
- Transit Oriented Development.
- Transferrable Development Rights.
- Micro level planning through Town Planning Schemes.
- Micro level planning through Local Area Plan.
- Urban water supply.
- Sewage management, treatment and disposal.
- Urban greening to mitigate heat island effect and tackle air pollution
Draft guidelines for designating the academic institutions as CoEs have been prepared and circulated among the members of the committee for their comments. Further steps envisaged are:
-
- Issuance of guidelines
 Inviting proposals from academic institutions
 Evaluation of proposals
 Final selection of five academic institutions for designating them as centres of excellence
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Finance
IFSC Authority approves the International Financial Services Centres Authority  Regulations, 2020
A meeting of the International Financial Services Centres Authority  was held today. The IFSC Authority, after detailed deliberations, approved the International Financial Services Centres Authority  Regulations, 2020.
Banking constitutes one of the major focus areas of IFSC and is expected to drive and facilitate the other constituent operations in the IFSC in due course. A self-contained regulation laying down the major principles of banking operations at IFSCs is thus an important step in the IFSC reaching its desired potential.
The Authority approved the draft banking regulations at its meeting today, which paves the way for putting in place the rules for the various aspects of banking operations that would be permissible at the IFSC.
The salient aspects of the Banking Regulations include:
- Laying down the requirements for setting up IFSC Banking Units 
- Permitting persons resident outside India  to open foreign currency accounts in any freely convertible currency at IFSC Banking Units 
- Permitting persons resident in India  to open foreign currency accounts in any freely convertible currency at IFSC Banking Units  to undertake any permissible current account or capital account transaction or any combination thereof under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme  of the Reserve Bank of India.
- Laying down the permissible activities of IBUs including credit enhancement, credit insurance, and sale , purchase of portfolios, engage in factoring and forfaiting of export receivables and undertake equipment leasing, including aircraft leasing
- Permitting the Authority to determine business that a Banking Unit may be permitted to conduct in INR with persons resident in India and persons resident outside India, subject to settlement of the financial transaction in relation to such business in freely convertible foreign currency.
The abovementioned regulations will be notified by the Government of India in due course.
Prime Minister's Office
PM attends 90 years celebrations of Essel Group
PM attends 90 years celebrations of Essel Group
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today attended the 90 years celebrations of the Essel Group in New Delhi. The event was also attended by President Pranab Mukherjee.
Welcoming the Prime Minister, Chairman of the Essel Group Shri Subhash Chandra thanked him for graciously accepting the invitation for this event. He explained Essel Group’s recent social initiatives on themes such as water supply, power supply, Swachh Bharat and Affordable Housing.
Two social initiatives were launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion. These include Sarthi – a people’s empowerment programme on subjects such as education, health and employment; and the DSC Foundation with a corpus of Rs. 5000 crore, to empower people in need.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the programme as an illustration of Indian traditions. He said that India has had a tradition where successive generations take family values forward, and contribute to the family by adding their capacities and capabilities.
He recalled his earlier meetings with Shri Nandkishore Goenka and said the family has always been open to new ideas, and has taken every challenge as an opportunity, to create a presence in a range of initiatives from “soil to satellite.”
Appreciating the social initiatives of the Essel Group, the Prime Minister said that the Swachh Bharat Mission provides opportunities for a large number of social entrepreneurs to emerge. He said that while “Sarthi” presented a good blend of rights and duties, the DSC Foundation would help build a large number of job creators.
The Prime Minister urged everyone present to work towards specific goals for what they could do for the country by 2022 – the 75th anniversary of independence.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Demand of Internal Reservation Among SCs
The States of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, while forwarding a copy of Resolution passed by their Legislative Assembly, have requested for sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. A National Commission to examine the issue of Sub- categorisation of Scheduled Castes in Andhra Pradesh  headed by Justice Usha Mehra had been set up in the matter. The NCSCSC in its report submitted on 01.05.2008 has recommended amendment of Article 341 of the Constitution to provide for sub-categorisation and de-sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. Government has decided to seek views of the major stake holder's viz. the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations on the recommendation of the NCSCSC. The States/UTs were last reminded on 09.12.2019 to expedite their comments. Moreover, the matter is presently sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
This information was given by The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri. A. Narayanaswamy in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Solar Energy Corporation of India to supply 600 MW Wind Power to GRIDCO Odisha under Power Sale Agreement
Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited , Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India has signed a Power Sale Agreement  with GRIDCO Odisha, Government of Odisha under which GRIDCO Odisha will purchase 600 MW of wind power from SECI under Tranche – XIII of ISTS  Connected Wind Power Projects Scheme. Under the ISTS scheme of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, power generated from a state rich in renewable energy resources could be transmitted to states deficient in renewable energy resources.
The agreement between SECI and GRIDCO was signed in Bhubaneshwar today, June 9, 2023, in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Odisha, N. B. Dhal.
Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission has already given in-principle approval for procurement of 600 MW wind power by GRIDCO. Power is scheduled to be commissioned within 24 months from the date of signing the Power Purchase Agreement  with Project Developers.
The aggregate capacity of 600 MW is likely to be installed by developers based in Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
SECI is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, incorporated in the year 2011. It is the primary implementing agency of the Ministry for Renewable Energy schemes and projects towards fulfilment of India's international commitments.
Till date, SECI has awarded Renewable Energy project capacity of over 58 GW. SECI is also active in setting up of projects through its own investments as well as for other public sector entitites as a Project Management Consultant . SECI enjoys an ICRA credit rating of AAA.
GRIDCO Limited is presently engaged in bulk purchase and bulk sale of power to the four Distribution Companies inside the State of Odisha and trading of surplus power through traders to promote exchange of power with neighbouring States in the country.
Prime Minister's Office
PM shares video by Ambassador of Japan to India Mr Hiroshi Suzuki showcasing Indian delicacies
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared a video by Japanese Ambassador to India Mr Hiroshi Suzuki where he, along with his wife, can be seen savouring Indian delicacies.
Sharing a tweet by Japanese Ambassador to India Mr Hiroshi Suzuki, the Prime Minister tweeted:
“This is one contest you may not mind losing, Mr. Ambassador. Good to see you enjoying India’s culinary diversity and also presenting it in such an innovative manner. Keep the videos coming!”
Ministry of Coal
5th Joint Working Group on Coal held virtually between India and Indonesia
India successfully hosted the 5th Joint Working Group  on Coal between India and Indonesia today through Video conference from New Delhi due to travel restrictions on account of Covid-19 pandemic.
The JWG was co-chaired from the Indian side by Shri Vinod Kumar Tiwari, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of Imdia and by Mr. Jonson Pakpahan, Director for Mineral and Coal, Non Tax State Revenue of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Republic of Indonesia, from the Indonesian side. In his opening remarks, Shri Tiwari provided overview of coal sector in India and presented emerging scenario for future. He highlighted India’s initiatives for self-sufficiency in coal under Atmanirbhar Bharat and imperatives for businesses in coal sector in both the countries.
Ministry of Coal made presentations on Indian Coal Policy reforms, Coking Coal Exploration and Commercial Mining, followed by presentations by the Indonesian side on Coal Policy and Current Coal Business updates, Deep Seated Coal Potential in Indonesia. Technical issues were presented by CMPDIL India and MCRDC Indonesia and expertise available were offered to each other. An open house discussion was also held.
For flagging the legacy trade issues by investors, a B2B session coordinated by Confederation of Indian Industries  provided for frank discussions and sought resolution of issues by the Governments of Indonesian and India. Emerging business opportunities in both the countries were highlighted by respective delegations.
It was decided that the discussions would also be carried forward beyond the confines of this forum.